Fast food vans will be banned unless they have a licence. Picture: Joits (cc-by-sa-2.0)

By Kit Sandeman, Local Democracy Reporter

Burger vans and ice cream vans have been banned from selling their goods outside several schools in Nottingham without a licence.

Nottingham City Council says the measure will help reduce congestion around schools. Reports have also flagged the potential impact on the health of school children.

Earlier this year, the council wrote to all schools asking if they wanted to take part in the scheme.

A total of 17 schools said they wanted the scheme to operate outside their grounds, and the council has now chosen 50 streets which will be affected.

The decision, taken by the Labour-run council on Monday (October 8), means vendors will now have to apply for a licence in order to sell anything on the 50 streets.

The chairman of the committee which took the decision said every school in the city had problems with congestion at the start and end of the day, and this scheme was designed to help.

Councillor Brian Grocock represents the Bestwood ward for Labour.

At yesterday’s meeting he said: “Speaking as a concerned grandfather, and a concerned parent, should one of my kids, or your kids, actually get killed because some vendor being outside a school meant kids were forced out on the road, we would all be quite upset and sorry, and we would get castigated for not taking this idea forward.”

Hugh White, director of sport and culture at the council, added: “We were made aware that there was an issue with burger vans and ice cream sellers parking vehicles outside some city schools. This created additional traffic problems at busy drop-off and pick-up times.

“We contacted all schools in Nottingham and had responses from 17, saying street vendors were working outside the gates and they had concerns around road safety.

“We had further comments from nearby residents who said these vehicles were exacerbating traffic at peak times of the day.

“Consent will now be required from the council before a vendor can pitch-up in designated streets close to these schools. This is not about preventing businesses from operating, but about being able to control the times of the day that they can open in certain locations.

“The most important thing is managing traffic congestion to minimise risk to pupils walking to and from school.”

A council report on the idea said: “Ongoing problems about nuisance and potential safety issues for pupils around some schools at peak times such as drop off and pick up was identified.

“Additionally, this has a negative impact on the local area, litter and the healthy schools ethos.”